BALDWIN, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — The owner of a pet store in Long Island, New York has been arrested after being accused of intentionally selling customers sickly puppies.
The owner of Puppy 4 You, in Baldwin, is accused of selling people sick puppies for thousands of dollars, despite knowing that many would require costly visits to a veterinarian.
Among those who purchased puppies from the store is Astrid Lanza, who said she purchased a 12-week-old dog, who they named Tory, for $1,500.
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“She was diagnosed with malnourished pneumonia and parasites.
She was [at an animal hospital] for like a week, they returned her back to me but, within two days, she just started getting worse,” Lanza said. “I took her back to the hospital and they just told me that you know her pneumonia was just way too far gone.”
She said her family spent $3,500 to try to save Tory, but the puppy ultimately passed away shortly after her final hospital visit, leaving Lanza’s daughter traumatized.
“My daughter, it was her first puppy that I purchased for her. She's still crying over the puppy, she still carries around her name tag, she's has her picture on her iPad and it's just been emotionally, very hard for us,” Lanza said.
The incident happened in February, but Nassau County officials on Tuesday announced the story owner was recently arrested after the Nassau County SPCA rescued 11 puppies from the store.
“The dogs had parasites…some more malnourished, signs of neglect, coughs and a variety of other health issues,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.
The SPCA’s Gary Rogers accused the store of helping to keep dangerous puppy mills in operation.
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“I have investigated puppy mills in Pennsylvania and other areas and when I tell you that they’re stacked on top of cages, it’s a horrible life for them and this is basically with these dogs come from,” he said.
One of the 11 puppies that were rescued has died, while others are up for adoption. The remaining others are still recovering.
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